2004-2005 First In Math® Case Study: Double-Digit Increases for School District of Philadelphia

2004-2005 First In Math® Case Study: Double-Digit Increases for School District of Philadelphia

Data for the 2004-2005 school year again points to steady improvement, with many schools scoring double-digit increases in math proficiency. In addition, analysis of the data suggests that schools with high levels of participation in the First In Math® program posted higher increases in math proficiency.

During the 2003-2004 school year, the School District of
Philadelphia implemented the First In Math® Online program in more
than 2,600 third- through eighth-grade classrooms throughout the
district, and the program proved to be a resounding success. Data
for the 2004-2005 school year again points to steady improvement,
with many schools scoring double-digit increases in math
proficiency.

This year, the threshold for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
jumps to 45%, meaning that 45% of a school's student population is
required to score at the "proficient and above" level on state
standardized tests. The 2005 Pennsylvania System of School
Assessment (PSSA) results for the School District of Philadelphia
showed a 14.7% increase in 5th grade students to 45.4% scoring at
the proficient and above level. Improvement among their 8th grade
counterparts was a 8.3% increase, for a total of 39.2% scoring
proficient and above.

One of the largest regions in the district, the Northwest Region
includes 31 schools, 355 classrooms and 12,780 students that were
actively involved in the First In Math® (FIM) program.

After implementing the FIM program two years ago, ALL Northwest
Region elementary and middle schools were able to meet
government-mandated Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards in
mathematics for the 2004-2005 school year.

The region ranked second in the district in the First In Math®
program, and exhibited dramatic increases in PSSA scores, with 22
of its 33 elementary and middle schools posting double-digit
increases from 2004 to 2005.

Northwest Region's 16.8% increase in 8th grade is double the
School District of Philadelphia's increase of 8.3%.

* Assumes the enrollment figures for 2005 are the same as
2004.

NORTHWEST REGION SCHOOLS:

5th Grade Highlights

Dobson, James School. The school experienced a significant
increase of 41% on the PSSA in 2005, as Dobson 5th grade students
scored 91% proficient and above, up from 50% in 2004.

Edmonds, Franklin S. School. 5th grade
students at Edmonds School performed extremely well on the 2005
PSSA in math, they scored a whopping 91.7% proficient and above.
This represented a 36.7% jump from the previous year of 55%
proficient and above.

Fitler Academics Plus is a great example of how FIM can
become part of a school's culture and motivate students to achieve
above and beyond in mathematics. Fitler 5th grade students scored
84.2% proficient and above on the PSSA in 2005, a difference of
33.3 percentage points from 50.9% in 2004.

8th Grade Highlights

AMY Northwest. 8th grade students PSSA results showed
tremendous improvement through a 36.4% increase from 32.2%
proficient and above in 2004 to 68.6% proficient and above in
2005.

Levering, William School. Levering School
presented a 25% increase in PSSA results, from 43.3% in 2004 to
68.3% in 2005 for 8th grade students testing proficient and above
in math.

Widener Memorial School. This is an excellent example of
the diversity of FIM when implemented in a school setting with
students who have special needs. Widener is a school for the
physically disabled, and many of the students also have cognitive
issues, from brain injuries. Widener 8th grade students scored
81.9% proficient and above on the PSSA in 2005, an increase of 67.6
percentage points from the previous year of 14.3% proficient and
above.

CASE HISTORIES - Northeast Region.

The Northeast region includes 20 schools, 364 classrooms and
13,104 students that were actively involved in the First In Math®
(FIM) program. These students were the top performers in the FIM
program-ranked #1 for 2004-2005. The Northeast Region's PSSA test
scores showed steady improvement.
5th grade student scores increased 13.6%, close to the
district's 14.7% increase.
8th grade student scores increased 10.7%, exceeding the
district's 8.3% improvement.

Northeast Region's 10.7% increase exceeds the School District of
Philadelphia's increase of 8.3%.

* Assumes the enrollment figures for 2005 are the same as
2004.

NORTHEAST REGION SCHOOLS:

5th Grade Highlights

Crossan, Kennedy C. School. Crossan 5th grade students
showed a dramatic increase of 25.3% in PSSA scores, as the school
went from 64.3% to almost 90% (89.6%) students proficient and
above.

Decatur, Stephen School. 5th grade students at Decatur
school presented a 24.6% increase in PSSA scores by scoring 69.5%
proficient and above in 2005, as compared to the previous year of
44.9%.

Fitzpatrick, Aloysius. Fitzpatrick School witnessed an
amazing increase in 5th grade from 37.1% to 60.4% proficient and
above-a 23.3% jump to make AYP.

Greenberg, Joseph School. The school experienced an
increase on the PSSA from 56.7% of students proficient and above in
2004, to 83.3% of students proficient and above in 2005.

8th Grade Highlights

Baldi, C.C.A. Middle School. Baldi Middle School is
another great example of how FIM can motivate students at the
middle school level to achieve higher levels of success in
mathematics. Baldi had the #1 FIM student (a 7th grader) in the
nation last year. 8th grade students from Baldi scored 73.3%
proficient and above on the PSSA in 2005-a 10.6% increase from the
previous year of 62.7%.

La Brum, General J. Harry Middle School. Last year, La Brum
Middle School participated in the piloted FIM Winner's Circle, an
incentive program designed to increase student achievement with FIM
through weekly drawings and prizes. 8th grade students showed an
11.7% increase in PSSA scores last year, from 30.1% in 2004 to
41.8% in 2005.

Wilson, Woodrow Middle School. The school experienced a
13.9% increase on the PSSA in 2005, with 8th grade students scoring
59.2% proficient and above-up from 45.3% the previous year.